Future of Utah Symphony’s Abravanel Hall in Question as Salt Lake City Plans Downtown Redevelopment

In Tuesday’s (5/8) Salt Lake Tribune, Robert Gehrke, Andy Larsen, and Kevin Reynolds write, “Abravanel Hall, home of the Utah Symphony since 1979, is due for ‘either a rebuild or renovation,’ Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson says. But which of those options officials will choose remains undecided as the Smith Entertainment Group begins making its pitch for a downtown sports and entertainment district. Presenting to the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday, Smith group representative Mike Maughan said: ‘We at Smith Entertainment Group want Abravanel Hall on-site, part of the planned downtown revitalization zone near the Delta Center.’ A petition with more than 10,000 signatures was started last week amid concerns that plans by Utah Jazz and NHL team owner Ryan Smith for new retail, restaurants and housing around his downtown arena could impact the 45-year-old performing arts center. The Smith group, Wilson and representatives from the Utah Symphony said they met Monday to discuss how the iconic concert hall would fit into those plans…. Salt Lake County, which owns the Abravanel Hall and Salt Palace lots downtown, has [previously] been working with the Utah Symphony on a plan for renovating the venue.”